From Jon Hinwood, Melbourne, Australia
I share no glee in the story of a Peruvian farmer suing a fossil fuel firm. The logic of suing such companies for climate change damage is the same as going after arms manufacturers for deaths caused by their weapons. The person who pulls the trigger causing a death is the principal offender. The average person – with their SUV, 24/7 air conditioning and a new iPhone – is pulling the trigger in the case of fossil fuels. However, suing the energy producers will have a small, perverse benefit, as it will add to the cost of energy via fees to lawyers, slightly reducing our zeal to maximise energy consumption(3 May, p 21).
